Common Goal Systems, a leading developer of cloud-based software for schools, announces several enhancements to TeacherEase and SchoolInsight. TeacherEase is software for the digital classroom and SchoolInsight is a comprehensive student information system.

The new functionality includes:

Curricula Organization. When using curricula (units, lessons, assignments, resources) in more than one class, the linkage more obvious. It’s much easier to determine which classes the curricula is used in. It’s also possible to edit some but not others, breaking the linkage between classes.
Instructor Main > Curricula

Search/Copy Curricula. Copy has had several usability improvements. Most notably, curricula can now be copied to multiple classes at once. If the destination is used in multiple classes, all those locations will be auto selected to help teachers keep everything consistent.
Instructor Main > Curricula > Search/Copy

Default Curricula Grouping. When working with curricula, lessons and assignments not assigned to a unit are grouped to help stay organized. Default grouping is by month, but can also be by week or grading period.. This allow teachers to more easily take advantage of the Curricula area and makes selection of resources easier.
Instructor Main > Curricula

Curricula Selector. No longer will teachers need to scroll through lists of 100+ lesson/assignments when selecting locations on the create/edit pages. The curricula selector has been improved to organize all curricula by unit or default group (as described above). Choose a unit and see it’s lessons, choose a lesson and see it’s assignments or resources. This should be much more efficient when looking through large collections of information.
Instructor Main > Curricula

Easier Startup for New Teachers. Implemented a startup wizard to improve the workflow for new teachers (both registering over the Internet or joining existing schools). Using the NewsFeed and Favorites links, TeacherEase guides users through an interactive startup tutorial. Many of the initial setup pages were updated to improve usability.

Standards. Teachers can more easily find the correct standards and add them to their classes.
Instructor Main > Gradebook Setup > Standards > Browse and Import Standards

Email Addresses. Replaced Email Addresses with Student/Parent Logins. For teachers with permission to enter student/parent email addresses, it will be much easier to maintain this information.
Instructor Main > Student/Parent Logins

Teacher Led Discussions. Teachers can create digital resources where students log in and discuss a topic through comment threads. While grading, each student’s comments are highlighted making it easy to assess their contribution to the overall discussion. Comment threads were also added to lessons that can be accessed independently by students.
Instructor Main > Scores/Comments > Create Assignment
Instructor Main > Lessons > Create Lesson

Class Enrollment Statistics by Date. When scheduling, the ability was added to see roster enrollment by date. This makes it easier to see the existing enrollment of upcoming semesters, and allows counselors to better gauge the impact of scheduling changes on future schedules.
Admin Main > Classes > roster
Admin Main > Scheduling > Individual Student Schedule > add/drop

Transcript Labels now show historical grades for past years. Transcript labels now print past years with historical/transfer grades.
Admin Main > Grade Reporting > Transcript Labels

Self-Service Editing of Order Forms. Customers can now update their order forms in preparation for renewing subscriptions. They can change the number of students, teachers, or admins for next year without assistance from Common Goal. They can also update contact information. To edit 2014-15 order forms, login and go to:
Admin Main > Order Form > Edit

This is especially useful in combination with the recently implemented “Pay Online Now” feature. Users can update their subscription and pay quickly and easily online.

Common Goal Systems (www.common-goal.com) provides web-based services for education. It provides SchoolInsight, an industry leading student information system and TeacherEase, software for the digital classroom. Using Software as a Service (SaaS), the company offers products via the Internet and is responsible for all system operation and maintenance. Founded in 2001, Common Goal Systems has hundreds of thousands of users worldwide.